Il Re Non Si Diverte [Import]

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C.G.D.

Il Re Non Si Diverte,Roberto Vecchioni,Wea,World Beat,World Music

Average customer rating: If you love beautiful voices... If you want to know Corelli's art, this is the right CD excellent gift Greatest Tenor of This Century! Ah... Franco :}

The Very Best of Franco Corelli Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bellini, Vincenzo | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Leoncavallo | Leoncavallo, Ruggiero | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Meyerbeer | Meyerbeer, Giacomo | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Ponchielli | Ponchielli, Amilcare | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Schubert | Schubert, Franz | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Corelli, Franco | ( C ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Bellini, Vincenzo | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Bellini, Vincenzo | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Leoncavallo, Ruggiero | ( L ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Meyerbeer, Giacomo | ( M ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Ponchielli, Amilcare | ( P ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Schubert, Franz | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Corelli, Franco | ( C ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Very Best of Beniamino Gigli The Very Best of Giuseppe di Stefano Carlo Bergonzi - The Sublime Voice ~ 40 Tracks from the Legendary Tenor The Very Best of Nicolai Gedda Very Best of ASIN: B00008V5VV Release Date: 2003-04-22

Tracks:

1. A Te, O Cara
2. Meco All' Altar Di Venere... Me Protegge, Me Difende
3. Ah Si, Ben mio...De Quella Pira
4. Se Quel Guerrier Io Fossi!...Celeste Aida
5. Pur Ti Riveggo, Mia Dolce Aida
6. Intanto Amici... Viva Il Vino Spumeggiante
7. Mamma, Quel Vino E Generoso
8. Recitar!... Vesti La Giubba
9. No, Pagliaccio Non Son
10. Colpito Qui M'avete...Un Di All'azzuro Spazio
11. Credo A Una Possanza Arcana
12. Legray!... Andrea Chenier!...Si, Fui Soldato
13. Come Un Bel Di Di Maggio
14. Vicino A Te

Tracks:

1. Donna Non Vidi Mai
2. Recondita Armonia
3. E Lucevan Le Stelle
4. Non Piangere, Liu... Ah! Per L'ultima Volta!
5. Nessun Dorma
6. Favorita Del Re!... Spirto Gentil
7. Cielo E Mar
8. L'anima Ho Stanca
9. Non Lunge Della Torre... Bianca Al Par Di Neve Alpina
10. Ange Adorable
11. L'amour, L'amour.. Ah! Leve-Toi, Soleil!
12. O Nuit Divine!
13. C'est La! Salut! Tombeau!
14. Fronde Tenere... Ombra Mai Fu
15. Ave Maria
16. Domine Deus
17. Core 'Ngrato
18. Torna A Surriento

Customer Reviews:

If you love beautiful voices..........2007-04-30

and passionate singing, you won't be disappointed. While Corelli certainly had his flaws, they are minor in the larger picture of this unique, magnificent force of nature. Then get this set for your friend who thinks Andrea Bocelli is a great tenor.

If you want to know Corelli's art, this is the right CD.......2007-03-10

Franco Corelli had one of the powerful tenor voices of the twentieth century. Think Mario del Monaco with more beauty and grace; think Richard Tucker with a smoother voice. He had annoying touches in his singing, such as those "catches" here and there. But, with Tucker, he is, in my estimation, one of the two most powerful and attention riveting tenors in the past century. Other tenors were more artistic, provided better characterization (think Domingo, Gigli, Pavarotti, Gedda, Caruso, and some others).

But Corelli was a wonder of nature! Some samples: "Ah si, ben mio. . .Di quella pira." If there were an aria made for Corelli, this would be it. His big, rich, powerful voice fits this cut nicely. Not much subtlety here. In "Di quella pira," he hits the high notes in a stentorian manner. There are those mannerisms, but they are so easily forgiven, taking into account that rich, lustrous voice.

"Celeste Aida" is another representative cut. This is a powerful version. Also, note how he goes from forte to piano at the end of this aria. A powerful effect indeed.

Then, there are the twin arias from "Tosca." In "Recondita armonia," his rich voice is well manifest. He exhibits a smooth line in his singing. This is a powerful version of this well known aria. "E lucevan le stele" displays again that rich voice. At one point, he goes from forte to piano in a mesmerizing manner (Who'd have thought it?). His final "la vita" grabs one's attention.

Finally, "Nessun dorma." Well, smoothly, and powerfully sung. The final "vincero" is powerfully rendered, leaving goose bumps on the spine.

This is the very best of Franco Corelli. Those who want to get a sense of the vocal prowess of one of the most powerful tenors of the 20th century should attend to this double CD set.

excellent gift.......2007-02-09

I gave it to my father and he says Its an amazing cd.

Greatest Tenor of This Century!.......2007-02-03

Franco Corelli is the greatest tenor of this century. Although there are many fine tenors including Carlo Bergonzi - no tenor comes close to singing with the pure heart and animal magnetism of Franco Corelli. Surprisingly, he was also quite comfortable with bel canto, listen to the incredible "A te o'cara". I've heard "Nessun Dorma" sung by many excellent tenors and hands down, none can touch the sublime beauty of Corelli's version. This 2cd set of his greatest arias is a wonderful gift for any opera fan. "Recondita Armonia" is my personal favorite. His thrilling vocal beauty and intensity of performance is truly unforgettable.

Ah... Franco :}.......2007-01-10

Such a pleasing voice. I can't believe the clarity and perfection. He was well before my time and others have become more 'popular' since then, but for some reason his voice seems better than the more current singers. I do not know much about opera so I will have to rely only on my own ears. I happily recommend this double album. I like to have it playing on the 5 CD changer with other opera cds, mixing through them...it is a perfect saturday morning accompaniment. enjoy.

Average customer rating: Kozêna, una cantante en alza A Beautiful CD!!-Magdalena Kozena sings like an angel!! Beutiful singing Much to enjoy with an eye to the future A charming and extremely well-sung recital

Magdalena Kozená - Le belle immagini (Mozart, Gluck, Myslivecek) Magdalena Kozená , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Christoph Willibald Gluck , Josef Myslivecek , Michel Swierczewski , and Prague Philharmonia Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Gluck | Gluck, Christoph W. | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music | Cantatas | Romances German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Gluck, Christoph W. | ( G ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Lamento Magdalena Kozená - Love Songs (Dvorak, Janacek, Martinu) Bach J.S: Arias French Arias Enchantment ASIN: B00005RCD8 Release Date: 2002-01-15

Tracks:

1. Mozart: La Clemnza di Tito: Atto I, Scene 8: N. 9 Aria
2. Gluck: Paride ed Elena: Atto II, Scena 3: Aria
3. Myslivecek: Abramo ed Isacco: Atto II, Scena 2: N. 8 Recitativo ed Aria
4. Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro: Atto II, Scena 3: N. 12 Arietta
5. Myslivecek: Atto II, Scena 13: Aria
6. Mozart: Idomeneo: Atto I, Scena 10: Recitativo
7. Gluck: Paride ed Elena: Atto I, Scena 1: Aria
8. Mozart: Lucio Silla: Atto I, Scena 2 Recitativo
9. Mozart: La finta giardiniera: Atto III, Scena 6: No. 26 Aria
10. Myslivecek: L'Olimpiade: Atto I, Scena 7: Recitativo ed Aria
11. Gluck: La clemenza di Tito: Atto II: Aria
12. Myslivecek: L'Olimpiade: Atto II, Scena 3: Aria
13. Mozart: La clemenza di Tito: Atto II, Scena 9: No. 19 Rondo

Amazon.com

Mozart and Gluck may make natural bedfellows for a program of arias, but Josef Myslivecek is not a name that would jump to most minds to join them. Czech mezzo Magdalena Kozená may be about to change that. In his time (1737-1781), the Czech composer was up there with the greats after his studies in Italy. He couldn't have a more persuasive champion than Kozená, who sets out to show why Myslivecek was counted among the country's 10 most successful composers. The young Kozená's mantelpiece is already crowded with competition trophies, including a 2001 Gramophone Award for her CD of eastern European love songs with Graham Johnson. Her voice is one to cherish. Her repertoire on this disc is not just a patriotic Czech waving the flag for her fellow countryman. Try any one of the four Myslivecek arias on this disc, and it is clear that he can easily hold his head high among this exalted company. This is a stimulating recital disc to play again and again. It is also a bouquet for the young players of the Prague Philharmonia under Michel Swierczewski. --Keith Clarke

Customer Reviews:

Kozêna, una cantante en alza.......2004-03-27

En este recital, Magdalena Kozêna (una de las cantantes mas de moda de los ultimos años) repasa las principales paginas para mezzo de las óperas de Mozart, Gluck, y su compatriota, el checo Myslivecek.
Nadie va a descubir ahora los talentos de Mozart y Gluck para la composicion de operas, pero si cabe apuntar la excelente calidad de las arias aqui incluidas del casi desconocido Myslivecek, y por tanto, hay que agradecer a quien se haya atrevido a incluirle junto a los dos grandes por autonomasia.
La voz de la mezzosoprano Magdalena Kozêna, casi sopranil, con agudos bellos y generosos, aunque no exenta de graves, se adapta a la perfeccion a todas estas paginas, a las que agrega unas variaciones de gran riqueza en todos los da capos. Quiza Kozêna sea actualmente la mejor cantante para afrontar este repertorio, tras el cambio a la cuerda sopranil de Cecilia Bartoli.
Redondea el disco una orquesta sutil y muy correcta bajo una direccion atenta y experimentada, asi como un sonido de primera calidad. Un disco que merece la pena escuchar.

A Beautiful CD!!-Magdalena Kozena sings like an angel!!.......2003-12-12

I purchased this CD a year ago from Streetside Records.
This CD is unbelievably amazing!! Magdalena Kozena is the most beautiful Czech mezzo-soprano in the world. Her voice is very lovely and she sings like an angel!! The fifth selection from this CD is one of my favorites!! It reminds me of Mozart. You should get this CD very soon, if you are a Kozena fan, just like myself. It's the best!!

Beutiful singing.......2002-04-13

This is a must have disc because of Magdalena Kozenás beutiful calm but strong voice. She must be a passionate girl with that kind of singing... lots of emotions but not theatralic by no way as some other more famous mezzo sopranos/sopranos often sing... a bit hysterical/theatralic.

This is an upcoming superstar with a little more practise and one or two more (routine) years (she is only 28-29) and its a disc you put on for pure enjoy and pleasure on and on.

Bartoli my be first choice for many about Gluck and Mozart but Magdalena has something else that you sholdnt miss.

I dont go in here about all numbers choosen and so and so but..

... this girl is going to be a (more) celebrated singer and I would be happy if she comes back to Drottningholm,Stockholm,Sweden again.

Sound is excellent and conducting too. Maybe its a bit too fast here and there and its not Wienna, Berliner and so on but this orchestra gives a more than good support to Magsalena.

Give this girl a chance and listen to her strong AND at the same time very soft voice that is very special and beutiful.

A MUST disc.

Much to enjoy with an eye to the future.......2002-04-07

Magdalena Kozena first attracted attention in a CD of Bach arias (which DG has not released in the US), followed by a critically acclaimed disc of Czech art songs and a recording of Italian cantatas by Handel. Her first solo operatic disc, like that of many of her contemporaries, is dedicated to the lyric mezzo roles of Mozart and Gluck. Kozena brings to this mix Josef Myslivecek, a Czech composer who seems to have fallen into the great 18th-century musicological chasm (i.e. not Mozart, not Haydn), despite compositional success on the operatic scenes of both Italy and Portugal, as well as a working relationship with the young Mozart (the oratorio selection from Abramo ed Isacco was once attributed to the young Mozart). Throughout Ms. Kozena brings to the music an instrument infused with alternatively mecurial and plaintive tonal qualities, youthful vitality and expressive spontaneity, coupled with emotional commitment, eloquent musicianship, and a vocal personality well suited to the requirements of 18th-century opera seria.

A charming and extremely well-sung recital.......2002-02-07

After winning much plaudits (as well as a Gramophone award) for her excellent recital of Czech songs, the young and beautiful mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kozena has managed to surpass herself with her latest release, "Le belle immagini", which contains 13 tracks of operatic arias by Mozart, Gluck and Myslivecek, a Czech composer of opera seria who was much admired by Mozart.

Kozena is described as a mezzo-soprano, although her timbre is distinctly sopranoish and her top register is radiant and free. Her voice is intrinsically very beautiful and it is basked in a sort of healthy glow (which is here enhanced by the clear and warm recorded sound). Her way of vocal production is unforced and free of contrived effects. Blessed with an excellent coloratura facility, her singing of the florid passages is long-breathed, liquid and wonderfully smooth (no aspirates) and she's able to bind the ornaments firmly into the vocal line. She's also very sensitive in her handling of recitatives (very important in this repertoire) and her embellishments (such as those in "Se mai senti spirarti sul volto") are always tasteful. Above all, she is very musical and her performances are vocally stylish and emotionally true and she receives wonderful and spirited support from the Prague Philharmonia under the direction of Michel Swierczewski.

By singing this kind of music, Kozena is now in direct competition with Cecilia Bartoli. While the Czech singer may not bring a similar degree of vibrancy and tension into the music, and that there's room for improvement in her Italian enunciation, hers is a more natural, sensuous and tonally ingratiating kind of performance, which I find no less involving.

This is a fascinating album which vocal lovers can't afford to miss. I'd urge everyone not to overlook this excellent and well-planned new release from DG. Those Myslivecek items, though unfamiliar to most people, are not mere curiosities as they are the work of a composer who, from this evidence, did seem to possess much musical and dramatic gift.

Do give it a try, and be prepared to be bewitched!

Average customer rating: SILLS GOES FOR BROKE -------- AND SHE TRIUMPHS Enough! The best set available - wonderful A great Anna I've had it!

Donizetti: Anna Bolena G. Donizetti , and Beverly Sills Manufacturer: Decca U.S. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Sills, Beverly | ( S ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Donizetti: Maria Stuarda Donizetti: Roberto Devereux (Elizabeth and Essex) Rossini: L'Assedio di Corinto Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor: Complete Opera (with full libretto and translation) Donizetti - Roberto Devereux / Rudel, Sills, Alexander, New York City Opera ASIN: B00005AWIL Release Date: 2001-04-10

Tracks:

1. Anna Bolena: Sinfonia
2. Anna Bolena: Act One, Scene One - Introduzione
3. Anna Bolena: Act One, Scene One - Ella di me, sollecita
4. Anna Bolena: Act One, Scene One - Si taciturna e mesta
5. Anna Bolena: Act One, Scene One - Deh! Non voler costringere
6. Anna Bolena: Act One, Scene One - Copme, innocente giovane
7. Anna Bolena: Act One, Scene One - Legger potessi in me! Non v'ha sguardo
8. Anna Bolena: Act One, Scene One - O! qual parlar fu il suo!
9. Anna Bolena: Act One, Scene One - Si: l'avrete
10. Anna Bolena: Act One, Scene One - la mia fama e a pie dell'ara
11. Anna Bolena: Act One, Scene One - Ella pure amor m offria
12. Anna Bolena: Act One, Scene One - Ah! qual sia cercar non oso
13. Anna Bolena: Act One, Scene Two - Chi veggo?...in Inghilterra
14. Anna Bolena: Act One, Scene Two - Da quel di che, lei perduta
15. Anna Bolena: Act One, Scene Two - Ah! cosi nei di ridenti
16. Anna Bolena: Act One, Scene Two - Desta si tosto
17. Anna Bolena: Act One, Scene Two - Io sentii sulla mio mano
18. Anna Bolena: Act One, Scene Two - or che reso ai patri i lidi
19. Anna Bolena: Act One, Scene Two - Questo di per noi spuntato

Tracks:

1. Anna Bolena: Act One, Scene Three - E'sgombro il loco...
2. Anna Bolena: Act One, Scene Three - Ah! parea che per incanto
3. Anna Bolena: Act One, Scene Three - Basta...basta...tropp'oltre vai...
4. Anna Bolena: Act One, Scene Three - Anna! - Riccardo!
5. Anna Bolena: Act One, Scene Three - S'ei t'aborre, io t'amo ancora
6. Anna Bolena: Act One, Scene Three - Ah!...per pieta del mio spavento
7. Anna Bolena: Act One, Scene Three - Alcun potria ascoltarti
8. Anna Bolena: Act One, Scene Three - Tace ognuno
9. Anna Bolena: Act One, Scene Three - Il quegli sgardi impresso
10. Anna Bolena: Act One, Scene Three - In separato carcere
11. Anna Bolena: Act Two, Scene One - O! Dove mai ne andarono
12. Anna Bolena: Act Two, Scene One - O mie fedeli
13. Anna Bolena: Act Two, Scene One - Dio, che mi vedi in core
14. Anna Bolena: Act Two, Scene One - Sul suo capo aggravi un Dio
15. Anna Bolena: Act Two, Scene One - Dal mio cor punita io sono
16. Anna Bolena: Act Two, Scene One - Va, infelice, e teco reca

Tracks:

1. Anna Bolena: Act Two, Scene Two - Ebben? dinanzi ai giudici
2. Anna Bolena: Act Two, Scene Two - Scostatevi...il Re giunge...
3. Anna Bolena: Act Two, Scene Two - Ambo morrete
4. Anna Bolena: Act Two, Scene Two - Al Consiglio sien tratti
5. Anna Bolena: Act Two, Scene Two - Sposa a Percy
6. Anna Bolena: Act Two, Scene Two - Per questa fiamma indomita
7. Anna Bolena: Act Two, Scene Two - Stolta! non sai...
8. Anna Bolena: Act Two, Scene Two - Ah! pensate che rivolti
9. Anna Bolena: Act Two, Scene Three - Tu pur dannato a morte
10. Anna Bolena: Act Two, Scene Three - Vive tu, te ne scongiuro
11. Anna Bolena: Act Two, Scene Three - Nel veder la tua costanza
12. Anna Bolena: Act Two, Scene Three - Chi puo vederla
13. Anna Bolena: Act Two, Scene Three - Piangete voi?
14. Anna Bolena: Act Two, Scene Three - Al dolce guidami castel natio
15. Anna Bolena: Act Two, Scene Three - Qual mesto suon?...
16. Anna Bolena: Act Two, Scene Three - Cielo, a'miei lunghi spasimi
17. Anna Bolena: Act Two, Scene Three - Coppia iniqua

Customer Reviews:

SILLS GOES FOR BROKE -------- AND SHE TRIUMPHS.......2006-04-17

I, being a great admirer of Callas, Caballe', Sutherland, and Sills, cannot understand why people so vehemently bash one of them in favor of the other. This does nothing to further the interest of music, and it reduces great operatic singing to the level of ice hockey. "Anna Bolena" is an opera that requires a very special type of soprano. It is, essentially, a florid bel canto opera for a considerably heavier voice than that associated with such bel canto heroines such as those encountered in "Puritani", "Sonnambula", and "Lucia". A great "Anna Bolena" should also be able to command Norma and Rossini's "Semiramide". Beverly Sills had a basically small voice, and she herself has admitted repeatedly that her undertaking Donizetti's Three Queens (Anna Bolena, Maria Stuarda, and Elizabeth in "Roberto Devereux) probably shortened her career by a decade. She was, of course, right. She certainly makes Anna Bolena a convincing vocal creation, and she sings with great conviction and involvement. But even so, there are moments when you know that she's pushing her resources to the virtual end of their endurance. She manufactures low chest tones that are completely out of allignment with the rest of her voice, and some of her top notes are nothing more than pitched screams. Of course, her passion and sincerity compensates for a lot of these deficiencies, and she emerges with a great success. I respect Sills, and have always felt that she was a little undone by her publicity machine, as well as the constant shadows of Callas, Sutherland, and Caballe. Truth to tell, all three had voices far more suited to these heavier bel canto roles. I'm not going to enter any fray and state any opinions here. Beverly Sills put forth a tremendous amount of skill and effort into roles like Anna Bolena, and she paid a vocal price, as one can hear on this recording. Still, I wouldn't be without this performance. Shirley Verrett is an outstanding Jane Seymour (she certainly could have sung Anna Bolena!), though I'm not sure that she and Sills blend all that well together. Whatever the case, let's give all these great sopranos a break and stop bashing them. My message to the bashers is: Callas, Sills, Caballe' & Sutherland have BEEN there and made it. What have YOU accomplished?

Enough!.......2006-01-25

Will this awfully mellow coloratura chirper ever stop shrieking? Sills couldn't fit the role of Anna less! Maria Callas, La Divina, has always been, and will always remain the role's owner.
Incidentally, how can some people blatantly dare show their absolute ignorance? How can somebody call -and get away with it- Callas' soloists Nicola Rossi-Lemeni, Giulietta Simionato, and Gianni Raimondi "second rate"??? I guess you've neither listened to any of them nor heard of their superb and much acclaimed qualities as musicians!!!

The best set available - wonderful.......2005-03-27

This is one of my favourite operas. I have heard the Callas, Sunderland (CD and DVD performances) and Gruberova (not to mention some live recordings).

Callas was breathtaking in her live performance from the 50's (especially in Act 3) BUT the sound quality is very poor indeed and the other soloists are second rate. The performance was also heavily cut. I only wish she had recorded the whole opera in the studio, instead of one or two arias.

Sunderland was well past her prime by the time she recorded her performance on CD. Her diction, never a strong point for her, is particularly 'woolly' and she has problems sustaining the higher register without strain. It is a pity she didn't record it much earlier in her career. Boynage conducts in a pedestrian manner too (compare the overture from Boynage and Rudel, Rudel makes the overture exciting and vibrant. Boynage conducts a somewhat flat and one dimensional rendition).

Gruberova's recording on CD is from a live performance and is truly aweful in places. I actually think it is one of the worst performances of anything I have ever heard 'recorded'. Don't touch it with a barge pole.

Then there is Sills performance. OK, I wish the voice was a little heavier at times but her singing is, as usual, beautiful. You feel that Anna Bolena is a role she loved, she conveys dramatic sincerity throughout. Rudel conducts his orchestral forces with such energy. Indeed, he is a major selling point of this set for me. He injects the performance with flair and gusto. Verrett, Burrows and Plishka don't put a foot wrong. A wonderful performance. I love this recording above all the others. Buy it. This set leaves the competition standing, (although, if you can tolerate the appalling sound, Callas' performance is fantastic too, however overall this set is far superior).

A great Anna.......2004-05-20

I'm sorry if I hurt anyone. I was just so mad and angry because Callas got bashed so many times by a Sills-Fanatic. I deeply apologise. Sills has a very beautiful voice, one of the best lyric coloratura voices out there. I hope Bev's fans will forgive me. This is one of the best Annas ever.

I've had it!.......2004-05-20

A Sills-Fanatic keeps bashing Callas with one star reviews in a row! I warned him that our patience is at its end! Now we'll retaliate! Sills is AWFUL as Anna Bolena, thin, sour, glassy and fake with no middle. A stupid coloratura chirper. Stop singing, Sills! My ears hurt, stop shrieking!

Average customer rating: A Collector's Item STUPENDOUS!!!! a great partial overview of an extraordinary career What a beauty! He answered my SOS - with his soul

José Carreras: The Golden Years Manufacturer: Philips ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Bernstein | Bernstein, Leonard | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Giordani, Giuseppe | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Lehár, Franz | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Leoncavallo | Leoncavallo, Ruggiero | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ramirez, Ariel | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Classic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Similar Items: Passion Very Best of José Carreras ~ Pure Passion The Very Best of Franco Corelli José Carreras Sings Catalan Songs ASIN: B00000J9GN Release Date: 1999-06-15

Tracks:

1. La Boheme: Che gelida manina
2. TOSCA: Recondita armonia
3. TOSCA: E lucevan le stelle
4. Manon Lescaut: Donna non vidi mai
5. Turandot: Nessun dorma
6. L'Elisir d'Amore: Una furtiva lagrima
7. Un Ballo in Maschera: Forse la soglia attinse
8. Rigoletto: Parmi veder le lagrime
9. Ernani: Come rugiada al cespite
10. II Trovatore: Di quella pira
11. La Battaglia di Legnano: La pia materna mano
12. Pagliacci: Vesti la giubba
13. Carmen: La fleur que tu m'avais jetee
14. Werther: Je ne sais si je veille
15. Das Land des Lachelns: Dein ist mein ganzes Herz
16. II Tedesco: Plaisir d'amour
17. Serse: Ombra mai fu
18. Rinaldo: Lascia ch'io pianga
19. Caro mio ben

Tracks:

1. Misa Criolla: Kyrie
2. A vucchella
3. La Serenata
4. Marechiare
5. Malia
6. L'ultima canzone
7. Ideale
8. Non t'amo piu
9. Good-bye
10. Mattinata
11. O sole mio
12. Core 'ngrato
13. Funiculi, funicula
14. Torna a Surriento
15. Granada
16. La Danza
17. You Belong To My Heart
18. Because
19. West Side Story: Tonight
20. Be My Love
21. Because You're Mine
22. Cats: Memory

Customer Reviews:

A Collector's Item.......2007-03-09

This is a different voice than you hear on recordings of "The Three Tenors." Of course, it's his earlier years, but the light, lyrical quality of his voice is amazing. Thank goodness for recordings, and digital remastering. I love this CD.

STUPENDOUS!!!!.......2005-06-20

I have a Carreras-recording of Tosca from 1980 and up till now I thought it was the ultimate recording of "Recondita armonia" and "E lucevan le stelle". I honestly thought that no one could sing these arias better. And in a way I'm right. The only one that did it was himself - a few years earlier.....(The two arias in this "golden years cd" are taken from a -76 recording of Tosca). And after listening to these songs I can't imagine that anyone dare say that he is/was the weakest of the three tenors. In my opinion he possesses something that the others don't. (I won't tell you what it is - listen and find out yourself). Even if his voice has changed over the years (and I mean changed, not declined..) something remains unchangeable and that is his ability to evoke emotions. No one can deliver a line like him. And that's something that's going to stay with him forever, because what makes his singing so special comes from within. It's not dependent on the quality of the voice. But in the songs on this cd his voice is pure gold.

Even though I like the whole album, some of the songs on the first cd (which consists of operatic arias) stand out to me - like "Una furtiva lagrima", "donna non vidi mai", "vesti la giubba" and "nessun dorma" (Sorry Pavarotti - José is way ahead of you interpreting this song. It's not enough to sing it on full blast....) Here's also the loveliest rendition of "Forse la soglio attinse". In 1975 the audience at La Scala in Milan went absolutely crazy after he had sung this aria. I have a recording from that night and it sounds as if they are standing on their seats, cheering and applauding. And it's almost like I want to do the same myself after listening to his singing on this album. And in the song "dein ist mein ganzes hertz" he makes me believe that his whole heart really is mine......In my opinion Carreras has the best rendition of this song ever. No one else comes even close to this one. And I mustn't forget his "che gelida manina" from La Bohême. I have the -79 recording it's taken from and it's the ultimate Bohême ever.

The second cd has a "lighter" repertoire with songs from composers like Tosti, Cardillo, Lara and others. My personal favourites here are "Core n'grato", "Ideale" and "Granada". In my opinion no one sings these songs like Carreras. Or rather - no one sings like Carreras. Period!

His singing will no doubt give you goosebumps all over and make your hair stand on end. If not, I bet you're either a Pavarotti or Domingo-fan....

a great partial overview of an extraordinary career.......2005-04-09

Now a household name by being one of the Three Tenors alongside Pavarotti and Domingo, Carreras' finest recordings were actually done in the 1970s, when his voice had a brilliance and luster that few singers have equaled. Born in Spain in '46, Carreras was a child prodigy, and by his late 20s was a shining star in all the major opera houses. Tragically, in '87, he learned he had leukemia, a disease he battled and won, going on to greater fame than ever before.
Though his voice is powerful and full of beauty, those with keen ears will detect his voice losing a tiny bit of its magnificence starting in the early 80s, and one wonders if the stress and exhaustion of stardom contributed to this as well as to the illness, or whether it was because the seeds of leukemia were taking root.

CD One is the operatic disc, and the two most sublime cuts are both from '76, Puccini's "E lucevan le stelle" (Tosca), and Verdi's "Forse la scoglia attinse" (Un Ballo in Maschera). Another track I adore is the heavenly Lehar "Dein ist mein ganzes Herz" (Das Land des Lachelns), from 1978, and few have performed this popular piece with more loveliness.
CD Two is in a lighter vein, and starts with a stupendous rendition of Ariel Ramirez' "Kirie" (Misa Criolla), sung softly and with extraordinary tenderness and artistry.
There are lots of heavenly melodic Italian songs, like "O Sole Mio", and a few in English like the song made famous by Lanza (who according to the liner notes, inspired Carreras to be a singer when he saw "The Great Caruso" at the age of six) "Be My Love " (Brodszky/Cahn).
The foldout insert has complete track list info and liner notes, and mention must be made of the incredible, sensitive sepia portrait of this handsome singer on the cover. Total playing time for CD One is 75'32, and for CD Two 75'47.
A must for Carreras fans, and anyone who appreciates the finest in operatic voices.

What a beauty!.......2005-01-13

This great double CD set shows us the true Carreras. All the great songs and arias are on this(although I would've liked to hear pourquoi me reveiller) and in pure Carreras style.
Some of the opera recordings are live, and that adds a lot to them. Both sides of the CDs have fantastic repetoire.
Definately a worthy buy!

He answered my SOS - with his soul.......2004-02-07

I came upon the genius of Mr. Carrera quite accidentally. I was in Warsovie (Warsaw), Poland. My purse was stolen, so I lay miserable and penniless and alone in the home of my Ex, with a copy of the Vampire Chronicles and Dostoevsky's Notes from the Underground (only books in English). The maddening drone of the hydro-dam nearby moved me to turn on the radio to my favorite college station. I was no opera buff, so when they announced that they would cover some Enrique Caruso songs, I was panicked to find a station that I could relate to.

Jose Carrera covered the full gambit of Caruso's classics. They must've played him for 2 hours straight. I was mesmerized. I could have touched him and put his hand to my face, his voice was so close. He sang with such emotion and outcry that I wanted to take him into my arms and console him. "Damn" is all that I could verbalize, when the program ended.

I'm not into Jose Carrera singing pop tunes, but he completely blows me away when he's in his own element. I was never feeling the three tenors, and although I remember Pavarotti and our school taking us to the Met in the 80's, Jose Carrera, is an animal of an entirely different species. He's one of a few artists that I can only listen to on my Bose, all alone, to fully appreciate the gravity of talent.

Average customer rating: A beautiful reading despite the casting of some light voices Unfortunately, the minority standpoint

Verdi: Don Carlo Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Don Giovanni: Lepovello's Revenge (Soundtrack) Verdi - Don Carlo / Domingo · Caballé · Raimondi · Milnes · Verrett · Estes · Giulini Olga Borodina & Dmitri Hvorostovsky: Arias/Duets Rimsky-Korsakov: The Tsar's Bride Arie Antiche [Australia] ASIN: B0000C6IVZ Release Date: 2004-03-09

Tracks:

1. Su, Cacciator!
2. Fontainebleau! Forest Immensa E Solitaria!
3. Io La Vidi
4. Il Suon Del Corno Alfin Nel Bosco Tace
5. Al Mio Pie, Perche?
6. Di Qual Amor, Di Quant'ardor
7. Al Fedel Ch'ora Viene, O Signora
8. L'Ora Fatale E Suonata!
9. Inni Di Festa Lieti Echeggiate
10. Il Glorioso Re Di Francia, Il Grande Enrico
11. Carlo Il Sommo Imperatore
12. Al Chiostro Di San Giusto
13. E Lui! Dessa! L'Infante!
14. Dio, Che Nell'alma Infondere
15. Sotto Ai Folti, Immensi Abeti
16. Nei Giardin Del Bello
17. La Regina!

Tracks:

1. Io Vengo A Domandar Grazia All Mia Regina
2. Il Re!
3. Non Pianger, Mia Compagna
4. Restate!
5. O Signor, Di Fiandra Arrivo
6. Oso Lo Sguardo Tuo
7. Preludio
8. A Mezzanotte, Ai Giardin Della Regina
9. Al Mio Furor Sfuggite Invano
10. Spuntato Ecco Il Di D'Esultanza
11. Sire, No, L'Ora Estrema
12. Sire! Egli E Tempo Ch'io Viva!

Tracks:

1. Ella Giammai M'Amo!
2. Il Grande Inquisitor!
3. Nell'ispano Suol Mai L'Eresia Domino
4. Giustizia! O Sire!
5. Ah! Sii Maledetto, Sospetto Fatale
6. Pieta! Perdon! Per La Rea Che Si Pente
7. O Don Fatale
8. Son Io, Mio Carlo
9. Per Me Giunto E Il Di Supremo
10. O Carlo, Ascolta...
11. Mio Carlo, A Te La Spada Io Rendo!
12. Tu Che Le Vanita
13. Francia, Nobile Suol
14. E Dessa
15. Ma Lassu Ci Vedremo In Un Mondo Migliore
16. Si, Per Sempre!

Customer Reviews:

A beautiful reading despite the casting of some light voices.......2007-01-20

To get the bad news over with quickly, the voices in Haitink's 1997 Don Carlo from London tend to be on the light side, and few of the performers are steeped in Italian style. The King Philip, Roberto Scandiuzzi, is Italian, but his voice sounds woolly and lacks authority. Elisabetta is the then-promising Russian soprano Galina Gorchakova. She has the vocal heft to sing any of Verdi's great dramatic soprano roles, but here she is a bit mature-sounding, and throaty in a Slavic way that takes some getting used to. She's at the opposite extreme from Mirella Freni, whose lyric soprano was clearly too light in Karajan's otherwise gripping set on EMI.

After that it's clear sailing. We get a fine orchestral reading from Haitink, more straightforward than either Karajan or Giulini but refined and beautifully balanced--only at times does the pacing feel too relaxed. It's certainly possible to play the score as a mroe haunted, doomed affair--the three leads, after all, are consumed by guilt almost from the beginning--but that's not Haitink's approach. Hvorostovsky gives one of his best performances on disc as Rodrigo, and the American tenor Richard Margison comes amazingly close to superstars like Domingo and Carreras as Don Carlo. The three bass roles of the Monk, Philip II, and the Grand Inquisitor are taken by very good singers, even if they don't erase memories of Boris Christoff or Nicolai Ghiaurov. Olga Broodina makes for a world-class Eboli, as one would expect. The orchestra and chorus of the Royal Opera Covent Garden sound just right in scale, not overblown like Karajan's Berlin Phil.

Editions have become complicated for this opera. Here we have the 1886 Modena version, an Italian translation in effect of the five-act French score premiered in Paris. I msut say I thoroughly enjoyed it. to the point that even Gorchakova's miscasting can't bring five stars down to four.

Unfortunately, the minority standpoint.......2005-10-04

Haitink's Don Carlo is very much like Giulini's, but better recorded, better conducted (!) and overall more accomplished as a concept.

His cast is very different. While not all ideally suited to their roles, they are sensitive to the drama and have something interesting to say - no weak link among them. The one standout is Hvorostovski as Posa, in what must be his best recorded performance. Also, I prefer Gorchakova and Scandiuzzi here to many others. Margison as Don Carlo is in good voice, but in terms of characterisation not a patch on Carreras, Domingo (live or for Abbado), or Alagna. Recommended!

Average customer rating: Beyond all description... An Absolute Must-Have for Any Pavarotti Fan Wonderful!!!!

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Album Description

Disc 1: Donizetti Arias from L'elisir d'amore, Maria Stuarda, Lucia di Lammermoor, La Fille du Regiment, Linda di Chamounix, La Favorita, and Don Paquale

Disc 2: Bellini/Donizetti/Verdi Includes arias from I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Norma, La Sonnambula (1976 Duet Recording), I Beatrice di Tenda, I Puritani, Don Sebastien, Il Duca d'Alba, I Lombardi, I due Foscari, Ernani, and Attila

Disc 3: Verdi 1 Includes arias from Macbeth, Luisa Miller, Rigoletto, Il Trovatore, La Traviata, and Les Vepres Siciliennes

Disc 4: Verdi 2 Includes arias from Un Ballo in Maschera, La Forza del Destino, Don Carlos, Aida, Otello, and Requiem

Disc 5: Puccini Includes arias from La Boheme, Madama Butterfly, and Turandot

Disc 6: Puccini and Verismo Includes arias from Cavalleria Rusticana, Manon Lescaut, Pagliacci, Andrea Chenier, and Tosca

Disc 7: Arias 1 Includes arias from La Griselda, Atalanta, Orfeo ed Euridice, Don Giovanni, Cosi fan Tutte, Guillaume Tell, and more. Includes Unreleased Material.

Disc 8: Arias 2 Includes arias from Martha, Mefistofele, La Giocanda, Adriana Lecouvreur, Rosenkavalier, Fedora, Werther, Faust, Carmen, and more

Disc 9: Italian Songs Includes: In questa tomba oscura, Me voglio fa'na casa, Non t'amo piu, Pace non trovo, and more

Disc 10: Neapolitan and Italian Popular Songs Includes: O sloe mio, Torna a Surriento, Core 'ngrato, Funiculi Funicula, Non ti scordar di me, Mamma and more

Bonus CD: The 1964 EP (previously unreleased) "Che Gelida Manina," "E lucevan le stelle," "Questo o quella," "La Donna e mobile," and "Parmi veder" with Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Edward Downes conducting

Customer Reviews:

Beyond all description..........2006-09-19

As a boy, I heard so many hyperbolic references to the legendary Enrico Caruso that I chose to purchase a remastered copy of his "Greatest Hits" when I first began to acquire recordings as a young man. Soon after, I discovered Pavarotti and my life was changed by his music. Caruso ended up in the Goodwill Store. I am convinced that in 500 years, should the earth cool again and the Muslim hoards abate, the civilized world will still tell tales of the greatest tenor. I have often found myself grumpy when searching for recordings of Pavarotti because of the inconsistent fidelity of the recordings. That search for the definitive Pavarotti recordings, regarding both content and fidelity, has ended with the release of this extraordinary collection. Worth it's weight in gold, the Puccinni Volume (#5) alone is enough to send someone like me into hyperspace. I am astounded by the beauty and power of these performances. I will always remember the day, not long ago, when a NPR commentator glibly mentioned between the weather and the night's playlist the terrible words, "Luciano Pavarotti has announced that he is retiring from Opera." I felt as if something indescribably beautiful was fading from the world. Of course, beauty in all of its earthly forms is fleeting at best, but these discs contain a reflection of it that will surely bolster any soul.

An Absolute Must-Have for Any Pavarotti Fan.......2004-01-09

...and that certainly goes without saying. My one tiny little problem with it is that his recordings of "Santa Lucia" and "Caruso" are not on this incredible box-set. Even though I have those recordings on other CDs, I still think those are very important pieces to include on this set (assuming that this set of Pavi hits would be the only compilation that that any fan of this phenomenal tenor would have). He is probably my biggest idol, and he deserves to have been one of the biggest opera stars in history.

Wonderful!!!!.......2002-11-07

This Pavarotti set; The Pavarotti Edition; is a wonderful collection of Arias and songs that cover Luciano's great career. Pavarotti is THE Voice of the 20th Century and this set does him justice. It includes 10 CDs with over 750 minutes of music; Includes Music from All of His roles; has a beautiful 76 page full color booklet; Has a wonderful write up; and includes a bonus CD of Pavarotti's fist album, a 45, from 1964, which has never been released on CD before this set. Every Song is hear, This SET is a must have for every Pavarotti Fan.

Average customer rating: Valuable compendium Rareties available on CD at last! Heavenly WHO ELSE CAN SING LIKE THIS TODAY?

The Art of Joan Sutherland Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Arne | Arne, Thomas Augustin | ( A ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Bellini, Vincenzo | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Delibes, Léo | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Fauré, Gabriel | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Meyerbeer | Meyerbeer, Giacomo | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Offenbach | Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Paisiello | Paisiello, Giovanni | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Piccinni, Niccolò | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Thomas | Thomas, Ambroise | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Weber | Weber, Carl Maria von | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Academy of Ancient Music | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Sutherland, Dame Joan | ( S ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Odes | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Joan Sutherland: BBC-Recitals 1958, 1960, 1961 The Art of the Prima Donna La Stupenda ~ The Supreme Voice of Joan Sutherland Serate Musicali The Voice of the Century ASIN: B000654OUQ Release Date: 2005-03-15

Customer Reviews:

Valuable compendium.......2007-01-24

This set is extremely valuable, not only as an overview of Dame Joans career but because it contains three complete LP sets that have been very hard to find. The sets are the 2 LP French opera (operetta) set, the Mozart album and the Wagner album. Although some of these do not show her to her best advantage (the Wagner set) they all have some very beautiful things and the French items are superb. The annotations and photos are interesting as well and there are some piano songs with Bonynge that are released here for the first time along with a scene from a live Covent Garden Norma.

Rareties available on CD at last!.......2006-03-29

While Joan Sutherland has recorded a number of impressive aria collections throughout the many years of her recording career, they tend to get lost in the shuffle of the countless reissues Decca/London has endlessly repackaged. While some of the original collections have appeared intact on CD--"The Art of the Prima Donna," "The Age of Bel Canto," "Love Live Forever" (her operetta collection that was originally titled "The Golden Age of Operetta"), to name a few--others are currently represented in the CD catalogue by only a few selections on discs that also include excerpts from complete opera recordings or duplicates of selections from other original collections. As a result, it has been impossible to assemble a CD collection of her recordings without a LOT of duplication, and some of the most interesting collections are still unavailable (e.g. "Command Performance" and "Serate Musicale").

While this newest set does include a lot of bits of this and that, ranging from her very first LPs to excerpts from complete recordings most Sutherland fans already have and a few "live" performances, what is perhaps most significant about it is that it features the complete contents of the "Sutherland Sings Wagner" LP--a real repertoire departure for her--and the double-LP album called "French Opera Gala" (in the U.S.--the British title was "Romantic French Arias"), neither of which, to the best of my knowledge, has been available on CD before. "Opera News" magazine once ran an article in which they asked various stars to name the one album that they felt best represented their artistry for future generations, and Dame Joan selected the "French Opera Gala," so for Sutherland fans, this is a long-awaited treat.

I'm not going to waste space saying how miraculous I consider Dame Joan's artistry. If you are familiar with her work already, you know whether you adore her or not; and if you aren't, this massive set is probably not the best place to start (that would be "The Art of the Prima Donna" album that introduced her to most listeners decades ago)--especially since this newest set doesn't contain the lyrics, a must for newcomers. Let's hope Decca/London gets around to releasing the rest of her recordings intact instead of endlessly scrambling and repackaging the same selections over and over.

Heavenly.......2006-01-31

I first heard of Dame Sutherland while on the internet while listening to a internet radio station. I was instantly a fan, her control, technique, and tone is perfectly executed and rivals the equally fantastic Maria Callas. She has a powerful voice and presence that will evoke every emotion from her listeners. Highly recommended to all Opera Diva fans.

WHO ELSE CAN SING LIKE THIS TODAY?.......2005-04-10

This is Decca's second multi disc evaluation of this fantastic singer's long career and many recordings. True that a lot on the first set is duplicated here, but there are a few exceptions here and there that make it a worthy addition. Of particular interest are the very early items of Handel and Italian baroque arias, some forgotten song recordings and a live performance of the duet from Norma. It can't be said too many times - who can sing like this today? For sheer vocalism it's hard to find anyone on the same wavelength. This set will give very young opera goers an idea of what they missed.

Average customer rating: The best version we'll ever get? A bit shallow, yet still thrilling Best studio version

Giordano: Andrea Chénier Umberto Giordano , James Levine , Plácido Domingo , Renata Scotto , Philharmonic Orchestra , Sherrill Milnes , Stuart Harling , Gwendolyn Killebrew , Malcolm King , Jean Kraft , Maria Ewing , Allan Monk , Enzo Dara , and Isser Bushkin Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Domingo, Placido | ( D ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana Verdi - Otello / Domingo, Studer, Leiferkus, Vargas, D. Graves, Schade, D'Arcangelo, Chung Leoncavallo: I Pagliacci Verdi: Macbeth Verdi: Il Trovatore ASIN: B00000JPBR Release Date: 1999-08-10

Tracks:

1. Opera In Four Acts: Act 1: Questo azzurro sofa la collochiam (Marjordomo)
2. Opera In Four Acts: Act 1: Compiacente a colloquii (Gerard)
3. Opera In Four Acts: Act 1: Son sessant' anni, o vecchio (Gerard)
4. Opera In Four Acts: Act 1: Il giorno intorno gia s'insera lentamenta! (Maddalena, Gerard, Countess, Bersi)
5. Opera In Four Acts: Act 1: L'orribile gonnella (Maddalena, Countess)
6. Opera In Four Acts: Act 1: Commosso.. lusingato (Fleville, Countess, Maddalena, Abbe)
7. Opera In Four Acts: Act 1: Debole e il Re (Abbe, Feville, Countess, Guests, Maddalena)
8. Opera In Four Acts: Act 1: O pastorelle, addio (Singers, Guests)
9. Opera In Four Acts: Act 1: Signor Chenier? (Countess, Guests)
10. Opera In Four Acts: Act 1: Al mio dire perdona ed al mio ardire (Maddalena, Friends Of Maddalena, Chenier, Countess, Guests)
11. Opera In Four Acts: Act 1: Un di all'azzurro spazio (Chenier, Maddalena, Countess )
12. Opera In Four Acts: Act 1: La notte il giorno (Voices, Gerard, Countess, Majordomo)
13. Opera In Four Acts: Act 2: Per l'ex inferno (Mathieu, Bersi, L'Incredibile)
14. Opera In Four Acts: Act 2: Temer?...Perche? Perche? Perche temer dovro? (Bersi)
15. Opera In Four Acts: Act 2: No, non m'inganno! (L'Incredilbile, Chenier, Roucher)
16. Opera In Four Acts: Act 2: Credo a una possanza arcana (Chenier, Roucher)
17. Opera In Four Acts: Act 2: Calligrafia in vero femminil (Roucher, Chenier, Crowd)
18. Opera In Four Acts: Act 2: Viva Roberpierre! Evvival (Matthieu, Citizens, L'Incredibile, Chenier, Gerard, Roucher, Crowd, Bersi)
19. Opera In Four Acts: Act 2: Ecco l'altare (Maddalena, Chenier, L'Incredibile)
20. Opera In Four Acts: Act 2: Eravate possente (Maddalena, Chenier)
21. Opera In Four Acts: Act 2: Ora soave, sublime ora d'amore! (Maddalena, Chenier)
22. Opera In Four Acts: Act 2: Maddalena di Coigny! (Gerard, Maddalena, Chenier, Roucher, L'Incredibile, Mathieu, Crowd)

Tracks:

1. Opera In Four Acts: Act 3: Dumouriez traditore e girondino (Mathieu, People, Gerard)
2. Opera In Four Acts: Act 3: Lacrime e sangue da la francial (Gerard)
3. Opera In Four Acts: Act 3: Prendi! E un ricordo (Women, L'Incredibile, Gerard, Offstage Newsboy)
4. Opera In Four Acts: Act 3: Amici, ancor cantiam, beviam (L'Incredibile, Gerard)
5. Opera In Four Acts: Act 3: Donnina, innamorata (L'Incredibile, Gerard)
6. Opera In Four Acts: Act 3: Nemico della patria?(Gerard, L'Incredibile, Maddalena, Mathieu)
7. Opera In Four Acts: Act 3: Se ancor di me vi sovvenite non sol (Maddalena, Gerard)
8. Opera In Four Acts: Act 3: La mamma morta (Maddalena)
9. Opera In Four Acts: Act 3: Perduto! La mia vita per salvarlo (Gerard, Maddalena)
10. Opera In Four Acts: Act 3: Mamma Cadet! (Market Women, Mathieu, Crowd, Gerard, Maddalena, Dumas, Fouquier - Tinville)
11. Opera In Four Acts: Act 3: Si, fui soldato (Chenier)
12. Opera In Four Acts: Act 3: Udiamo i testimoni! (Fouquier - Tinville, Gerard, Crtowd, Chenier, Dumas, Maddalena)
13. Opera In Four Parts: Act 4: Cittadino, men duol, mae tardi assai (Schmidt, Roucher, Chenier)
14. Come un bel din maggio (Chenier)
15. Opera In Four Parts: Act 4: Viene a costei concesso (Gerard, Schmidt, Maddalena)
16. Opera In Four Parts: Act 4: Vicino a te s' acqueta (Maddalena, Chenier, Schmidt)
17. Opera In Four Parts: Act 4: La nostra morte (Maddalena, Chenier)

Customer Reviews:

The best version we'll ever get?.......2006-09-26

I agree with both reviewers below: this 1977 performance of Andrea Chenier is the best studio version, and given the absence of tenors with Domingo's charisma, it may be the best we can expect for a long time. but this isn't just the familiar Domingo-Milnes show. By a long stretch Scotto is the best Maddalena I've ever heard. Even though she never had the strong chest tones of a true verismo soprano like Tebaldi, Milanov, or Magda Olivero, Scotto had the right attitude--she seems to be tearing her heart out. Milnes is blustery, as usual, but domingo couldn't be better as the ardent Chenier, and Levine's vigorous pacing helps to disguise the weaknesses in the music (although an audience favorite, this opera is disdained by critics, one of whom called it a garbage can filled with verismo cliches).

Among the competition, I'm aware of the Callas mono recording, a live aircheck in dreadful sound, and the Chailly-conducted set on Decca with Pavarotti and Caballe, which features the tenor is less than best voice and the soprano a bit too droopy for my tastes. So this RCA set holds it onw.

A bit shallow, yet still thrilling.......2002-02-09

This recording came near the end of the famous Domingo/Milnes RCA recordings when they made a flurry of operas with Price, Caballé and Scotto. Here they are paired with Scotto, and led by the young James Levine with the National Philharmonic which was much used at that time by RCA and Decca.

The main reasons for purchasing this album is for the leading trio in their prime, and for the enthusiastic conducting of Levine. Dramatically, it's more enthusiastic than anything else, and that can be heard right from the opening bars. The freshness and vitality is quite brilliant, and the voices are all healthy and vigorous. However, a first impression only lasts so long, for this is basically a good, but routine Chenier that merely scratches the surface of good theater. For a late 70's recording, it's quite good and worth owning, but it lacks the dramatic punch to put it over the edge.

Perhaps the most notable reason to hear this is for a document of how exciting Levine's conducting used to be, before his Bayreuth years and subsequent deification at the Met. An early review stated that this Chenier sounded as fresh as if the ink were still wet on the score. What a contrast to what we have today....

Best studio version.......2001-02-23

Here we have Domingo & Milnes at their absolutely best. Scotto also is great, landing somewhere between Tebaldi and Callas. It's heard from the very start, Gérard's "son sessant'anni..." gives the tone to the whole performance - blood red and white hot as it is. Thereafter we're spoilt with at least ten - how often are there such a number in one opera - of melodic, dramatic and not least lovely tunes - here greatly sung by some of the last centurys greatest voices. Although I find Bjorling, Corelli and Bastianini great in their respective parts, this is THE over all best studio performance. Feel perfectly assured with this one - the only one to compete is a obscure live version with Del Monaco & Callas on the record label of Melodram (or 'Verona'). Nore Pavarotti's, nore Carreras' versions comes even close to the impact and theatrical reliability of this recording.

Average customer rating: Excellent

Opera Obsession Act II Manufacturer: Opera D'oro ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Opera Obsession! - Opera d'Oro's Greatest Hits Opera Obsession! Act III The Most Famous Opera Arias The Most Famous Opera Duets The Best of Italian Opera ASIN: B000086ERW Release Date: 2003-02-04

Tracks:

1. O Mimi, Tu Piu Non Torni - Luciano Pavarotti
2. Pres Des Remparts De Seville - Placido Domingo
3. Rachel, Quand Du Seigneur - Richard Tucker
4. Padre, Germani, Addio! - Heather Harper
5. Oh Mio Castel Paterno - Gianni Raimondi
6. Io Son L'umile Ancella - Montserrat Caballe
7. Ah, Qu'il Est Loin, Mon Pays - Alexander Oliver
8. Meister Heiling - Hermann Prey
9. Oh! Quante Volte - Margherita Rinaldi
10. Jak Mozna Verit - Beno Blachut
11. Un Bel Di, Vedremo - Montserrat Caballe
12. Ingemisco - Luciano Pavarotti
13. Suzel, Buon Di (Cherry Duet) - Mirella Freni
14. Il Est Doux, Il Est Bon - Muriel De Channes
15. Un Aura Amorosa - Peter Schreier
16. Donnez, Donnez - Marilyn Horne
17. La, La, La - Nicolai Gedda
18. Casta Diva - Maria Callas
19. Si, Pel Ciel Marmoreo Giuro - Piero Cappuccilli

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2004-09-12

Volume II of Opera Obession is as good as Volume I, which is to say, very good indeed. The price may be bargain basement, but the quality is not, and this is another wonderful selection of outstanding opera singers. There are few liner notes to speak of (no years of the performances), but this is a very minor flaw in an album of great value.

Average customer rating: Emotionless weak singing Natural and Accomplished Lovely Similar to David Daniels recital but textless

Handel Opera Arias, Vol. 1 ~ Drew Minter, PBO, McGegan Manufacturer: Hmf Classical Exp. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music $6.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Heavenly Handel: Arias and Duets Campion: Elizabethan Songs Lamento Vivaldi Edition: Operas The Most Famous Opera Arias ASIN: B000056F7J Release Date: 2001-03-13

Tracks:

1. 'Va Tacito E Nascosto'
2. 'Non E Si Vago E Bello'
3. 'Vivi, Tiranno'
4. 'Che Piu Si Tarda Omai'/'Inumano Fratel'/'Stille Amare'
5. 'Nube, Che Il Sole'/'Si Fugge Il Duol'
6. Riccardo Primo: Agitato Da Fiere Tempeste
7. 'Ah! Stigie Larve'/'Gia Latra Cerbero'/'Ma La Furia'/'Vaghe Pupille'
8. 'Gia Per La Man'/'Gia L'Ebro Mio Ciglio'[
9. 'T'Ubbidiro, Crudele'/'Fammi Combattere'
10. 'E Questa La Mercede'/'Cielo! Se Tu Il Consenti'
11. 'Amor, Nel Mio Penar'

Customer Reviews:

Emotionless weak singing.......2006-09-07

The title of this review says it all. Try another collection if you love Handel. Here Minter makes Handel seem lifeless and colorless.

Natural and Accomplished.......2006-04-08

George Frideric Handel, Opera Arias Vol. 1 (re-issue of "Arias for Senesino").
Performed by: Drew Minter, countertenor; Lowell Greer, horn; the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, San Francisco (concertmaster: Michael Sand), directed from the harpsichord by Nicholas McGegan.
Recorded in November, 1986, at Lone Mountain College Chapel, San Francisco, California.
Harmonia Mundi. Originally published in 1987 as HMC 905183. Re-issued as part of the budget-priced Classical Express series as HCX 3955183. Total time: 60 minutes.

Together, Nicholas McGegan and Drew Minter have possibly done more than anybody else in recent years to re-establish the claims of Handel as an opera composer. This activity has, of course, not been limited to CD productions, and in particular it must be the yearly production of an opera at the G?ttingen H?ndelfestspiele in Germany which merits praiseworthy attention. The CD "Opera Arias Vol. 1" was one of the firstfruits of McGegan's association with Minter and with the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra. Normally, I would shy away from such "bitty" productions with selections of arias instead of whole works, but in this case I can only say Thank God for a wonderful document full of enthusiasm for Handel as an opera composer. Senesino, for whom all the arias on this disc were specially written, was, of course, not a countertenor but a "castrato". In our more enlightened times, we no longer castrate boys in order to make them great soprano singers, and anyone who wants to re-create 18th century opera has to answer the question of how to convey something of the singing which captivated the masses in Handel's day and, in London at least, became the talk of the town. Some directors prefer a certain kind of female voice, a legitimate decision borne out by the success of Vivica Genaux with her album of Arias for Farinelli. In the Farinelli film, a digital mix was made of a male countertenor and a female voice, something I personally feel to be a little dishonest. The third alternative is to use a countetenor, well aware that this is a compromise that can only be a pointer to what the singing of Senesino (and Farinelli) must have been like.
Drew Minter is, after Andreas Scholl and David Daniels, perhaps one of the most natural and accomplished countertenors to grace the early music scene, and this particular CD bears wonderful testimony to his vigour and his ability to sing, seemingly effortlessly, in the typical Handelian style often missed by more well-known opera singers. The two absolute highlights of the disc are the opening "Va tacito e nascosto" from "Giulio Cesare" and "Ah! Stigie Larve", the famous mad scene from "Orlando". The first of these is made even more glorious by Lowell Greer's heavenly natural horn accompaniment, and I find it even more delightful than the rival version by Paul Esswood and the Concentus Musicus Wien directed by Nikolaus Harnoncourt (Warner). Each and every aria is succintly directed by McGegan, an opera genius, and the silvery, rapt playing of the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra leaves, to my mind at any rate, nothing whatever to be desired. It is extremely unfortunate that the texts of the arias are no longer included in the booklet.

Lovely.......2006-01-23

I only know vocal Handel (outside of the Messiah) from the Music of the Baroque series in Chicago. That inspired me to find this recording. I enjoy the style,the rhythm, the beauty of the voice, and it's become one of my favorite cds of baroque music. I found it at my university's library. Note that it's a little confusing. The original title was "Handel: Arias for Senesino." However, today I was unable to find it on Amazon under that name. There's a more recent cd with that title; and this is under the title you see above, I suppose because it's a re-issue as part of a series.

Similar to David Daniels recital but textless.......2001-03-28

This CD was originally issued in 1987 as "Arias for Senesino" and then appeared as part of a mid-price 4CD set with similar recitals featuring Lisa Saffer, Lorraine Hunt and David Thomas. The title 'Vol.1' suggests that the other 3 releases in the original series will soon follow, although price-wise buying the full 4CD set (with sung texts) would be better value for money. The Minter disc features arias from Giulio Cesare, Riccardo Primo, Orlando, Flavio and Tolomeo. Here (as with all other HM USA re-releases in this series) the texts and translations have been cut. One wonders why record companies do this in their reissue series? It isn't to save paper as the CD still contains a verbose 20 page booklet. As the lyrics are so essential to understanding and enjoying Handel's operas it would be better to go for the recent disc of Handel arias on Virgin by American countertenor David Daniels who covers almost exactly the same 'arias for Senesino' as Minter. Alternatively there are several collections of soprano arias such as those by Emma Kirkby on Hyperion.

International Music:

1. Indigenous Tribes [Import]
2. Irish Fiddles & Pipes
3. Je Sais Pas Trop [Import]
4. L'ami [Import]
5. L'integrale Bercy [Import]
6. La Nouvelle Vie [Import]
7. La Parola Ai Testimoni [Import]
8. Lama [Import]
9. Le Palais Des Sports [Import]
10. Le Perle Degli Squallor [Import]

International Music

International Music